Antecedents and Outcomes of Extent of ERP Systems Implementation in the Sub-Saharan Africa Context: A Panoptic Perspective

Most research on the impact of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems implementation on business process outcomes have focused on developed nations. However, Sub-Saharan Africa, a developing region, is a growing ERP market and provides a new context for theory development. We examine the antecedent and outcomes of extent of ERP systems implementation in Sub-Saharan Africa. Specifically, we examine three research questions: 1) “How does an organization’s data culture influence the extent of ERP implementation?”, 2) “How does the extent of ERP implementation influence the ethical behavior and data integration of the organization?”, and 3) “How do ethical behavior and organizational integration influence the business process outcomes?”. We used the panoptic concept as a theoretical lens to develop a research model and six hypotheses to answer the research questions. We tested the model by using the survey methodology to collect data from 115 firms that have implemented ERP systems and operated in 13 industries in Ghana, a Sub-Saharan Africa nation. We used structural equation modeling to analyze the data. We found support for all six hypotheses. We offer both theoretical and managerial implications

Examining the Relationships between Supply Chain Integration, Information Sharing, and Supply Chain Performance: A Replication Study

This study performs a conceptual replication of the study of Koçoğlu et al. (2011) which explored the effect of Supply Chain Integration (SCI) on Supply Chain Performance (SCP) and Information Sharing using manufacturing firms in Turkey. The replicated study explored the same relationships but considered manufacturing and service firms belonging to one giant supply chain in Ghana. Whilst the results of the measurement model of replicated study are valid and reliable, the structural model results were different from that of the original study. The original study observed a positive significant effect of SCI on SCP which was not confirmed in our study. Instead, a mediating effect of Information Sharing on the relationship between SCI and SCP was observed. The differences in the structural model results may have arisen due to the different conceptualization of the SCP construct, or the existence of different contextual and/or environmental factors

The association between Institutional Absorptive Capacity, Electronic procurement Assimilation and Procurement Process in Public Sector Organizations

Public sector organizations face challenges with their procurement processes. Electronic mode of public procurement enables governments and organizations to achieve efficient and effective tendering information processing, leading to transparency and fairness in the bidding process. However, little is known on the drivers of electronic procurement assimilation in the public sector. The study examines the influence of absorptive capacity on the assimilation of electronic procurement and the subsequent effect on the procurement process in the public sector. In addition, the study explores the mediating role of electronic procurement assimilation on the relationship between institutional absorptive capacity and the procurement process. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze 306 useable data from public sector organizations in Ghana where public procurement laws demand efficient and effective procurement processes. We found support for all the four hypotheses. We offer theoretical and managerial implications

Impact of ERP Implementation on Business Process Outcomes: A Replication of a United States Study in a Sub-Saharan African Nation

This study is a conceptual replication of Karimi et al.’s (2007) study on the impact of ERP implementations on business process outcomes among US manufacturing firms in a Sub-Saharan African (SSA) nation. The results of the measurement model are valid and reliable, which are consistent and comparable with that of the original study, enhancing the external validity of the constructs proposed in the original model. However, only one of the four hypotheses tested in the structural model was confirmed in the current study although all four were supported in the original study. While the original model was tested on manufacturing firms in the US, the replicated study was carried out in several industries in Ghana, a SSA nation. Thus the differences in the structural model results do not invalidate the original model but suggest the need for capturing contextual or environmental variables such as culture, industry, ethical behavior, and data culture in order to enhance the external validity and theoretical contribution of the original model in the SSA context

Radiation Safety in the Treatment of Patients with Thyroid Diseases by Radioiodine 131I: Practice Recommendations of the American Thyroid Association

Background: Radiation safety is an essential component in the treatment of patients with thyroid diseases by 131I. The American Thyroid Association created a task force to develop recommendations that would inform medical professionals about attainment of radiation safety for patients, family members, and the public. The task force was constituted so as to obtain advice, experience, and methods from relevant medical specialties and disciplines. Methods: Reviews of Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations and International Commission on Radiological Protection recommendations formed the basic structure of recommendations. Members of the task force contributed both ideas and methods that are used at their respective institutions to aid groups responsible for treatments and that instruct patients and caregivers in the attainment of radiation safety. There are insufficient data on long-term outcomes to create evidence-based guidelines. Results: The information was used to compile delineations of radiation safety. Factors and situations that govern implementation of safety practices are cited and discussed. Examples of the development of tables to ascertain the number of hours or days (24-hour cycles) of radiation precaution appropriate for individual patients treated with 131I for hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer have been provided. Reminders in the form of a checklist are presented to assist in assessing patients while taking into account individual circumstances that would bear on radiation safety. Information is presented to supplement the treating physician's advice to patients and caregivers on precautions to be adopted within and outside the home. Conclusion: Recommendations, complying with Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations and consistent with guidelines promulgated by the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurement (NCRP-155), can help physicians and patients maintain radiation safety after treatment with 131I of patients with thyroid diseases. Both treating physicians and patients must be informed if radiation safety, an integral part of therapy with 131I, is to be attained. Based on current regulations and understanding of radiation exposures, recommendations have been made to guide physicians and patients in safe practices after treatment with radioactive iodine.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90492/1/thy-2E2010-2E0403.pd

Effect of Left Atrial Function Index on Late Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence after Pulmonary Vein Isolation

Background: Although the rates of catheter ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) are rapidly increasing, there are few predictors of outcome to help inform appropriate patient selection for this procedure. Traditional echocardiographic measures of atrial structure do not significantly reclassify risk of AF recurrence over and above the clinical risk factors. Left Atrial Function Index (LAFI) is a rhythm-independent measure of atrial function. We hypothesized that baseline LAFI would relate to AF recurrence after CA. Methods: Pre-procedural echocardiograms from 170 participants, who underwent CA for AF and were enrolled in the UMMC AF Treatment Registry, were analyzed. LAFI was calculated by a previously validated formula. Primary outcome was late or clinically significant AF recurrence 3-12 months after CA. Baseline clinical, laboratory and echocardiographic variables were compared between the recurrence and non-recurrence groups. Results: Study participants were middle aged (60+/10 years) and had a moderate-to-severe burden of cardiovascular comorbidities. 78 participants (46%) experienced late AF recurrence. Mean LAFI was 0.26+/-0.18. In multivariate analysis, lower LAFI was independently associated with the risk of recurrence (0.23 in recurrence group vs 0.29 in non-recurrence group, p \u3c 0.01). Predictive value of LAFI for AF recurrence was similar to CHADS2 score (c-statistic 0.60 vs 0.58, p 0.76). In subgroup of patients with persistent AF, LAFI predicted AF recurrence more strongly than CHADS2 score (c-statistic: 0.79 vs 0.58, p 0.02). Conclusions: In our cohort of 170 participants with AF undergoing index CA ablation, we observed that LAFI related to late AF recurrence after CA, independent of the traditional risk factors. Since LAFI can be calculated from almost any traditional echocardiographic recording, our findings suggest that LAFI may help guide therapeutic decision-making regarding application of CA, particularly among challenging patients with symptomatic persistent AF

Association between micronutrients, oxidative stress biomarkers and angiogenic growth mediators in early and late-onset preeclamptic Ghanaian women

Objectives: Micronutrients, especially calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) are reported to reduce preeclampsia events via several factors such as endothelial cell control, optimal oxidative stress and a balanced angiogenic growth mediator. We evaluated the association of micronutrients with oxidative stress biomarkers, and angiogenic growth mediators in early-onset preeclampsia and late-onset preeclampsia. Methods: This case-control study recruited 197 preeclampsia (early-onset preeclampsia = 70 and late-onset preeclampsia = 127) as cases and 301 normotensive pregnant women as controls from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Ghana. Samples were collected after 20 weeks of gestation for both cases and controls and estimated for Ca, Mg, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1, placental growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor-A, soluble endoglin, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine, 8-epiprostaglandinF2-alpha and total antioxidant capacity. Results: Early-onset preeclampsia women had significantly lower levels of Ca, Mg, placental growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor-A and total antioxidant capacity but higher levels of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1, soluble endoglin, 8-epiprostaglandinF2-alpha, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1/placental growth factor ratio, 8-epiprostaglandinF2-alpha /placental growth factor ratio, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine/placental growth factor ratio and soluble endoglin/placental growth factor ratio than late-onset preeclampsia and normotensive pregnant women (p \u3c 0.0001). Among the early-onset preeclampsia women, the first and second quartile for serum placental growth factor, first quartile for vascular endothelial growth factor-A and total antioxidant capacity and the fourth quartiles for serum sEng, serum sFlt-1, 8-epiPGF2 and 8-OHdG were independently associated with low Ca and Mg (p \u3c 0.05). Among late-onset preeclampsia women, the fourth quartile for soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 was independently associated with low Ca and Mg (p \u3c 0.05). Conclusion: Magnesium and calcium are associated with an imbalance in angiogenic growth mediators and oxidative stress biomarkers among preeclampsia women, particularly early-onset preeclampsia. Serial and routine measurement of these micronutrients would allow the monitoring of poor placental angiogenesis while enabling an understanding of the triggers of increased oxidative stress and reduced antioxidant in preeclampsia